Prague Quick City Guide
This is a quick city guide, based on my experiences in Prague. I've tried to include a bunch of good information on places to visit & eat that aren't in most guide books. I've also tried to keep this pretty short, more of a quick guide for people visiting for a couple of days - if you're in Prague/Czech Republic longer you'll be better served by a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide. There are lots of great places to visit in the Czech Republic that are full day or multi-day trips and I've skipped those here. I'm afraid I don't have any info on hotel deals.
If you're visiting Prague and have other questions, please feel free to drop me a line.
Travel From the States:
Flying into Prague via London is usually quickest, cheapest way. BA runs non-stops from a number of US cities into LHR, and there a number of non-stops to PRG from LHR each day.
Other popular routes are United via ORD & Frankfurt and KLM/Northwest via Minneapolis/Detriot & Amsterdam.
Transportation from Airport:
Cedaz offers mini-van service into central prague - 480kc for up to 4 persons, good for large parties - http://www.cedaz.cz/about-transport-services.php
AAA Taxi - cheapest taxi service in Prague has a stand at the airport now - expect to pay around 400-450kc depending where you're going - http://www.aaa-taxi.cz/cz/
Public Transportation - a 20kc ticket will get you on a bus that will drop you at the end of the Green line subway, and cover a transfer onto the subway, good for budget travelers or those without a lot of luggage
Transportation in Prague:
Don't take a taxi, you'll get hosed. If you *have* to take a taxi, call AAA - 222333222
Get a metro pass, this pass will cover all subways, trams & buses in Prague - comes in 1/3/7/15 day varieties, available at some subway stops & most convienent stores (inmedio & relay are the two biggest chains). Metro works on the honor system - no turnstyles, but if you're caught without a ticket it'll be a 400/800kc fine.
A single ticket is 20kc for an hour with transfers or 12kc for a one way (limited to 5 metro stops too I believe). There are yellow machines in the metro stations that dispense these tickets - you select the ticket you want and then insert coins.
Trains - trains are a quick, cheap way to get out to the countryside - www.vlak.cz is the website for the train operator, the site has a good, reliable schedule & pretty accurate fares. The main train station is Hlavni Nadrazi connected to the Red line metro stop of the same name.
Cash:
Don't change money on the street - that 'great rate' will likely get you old Bulgarian currency that is worthless. Just use an ATM, they're all over. Most shopkeepers will prefer small bills, exact change if you have it.
Tipping:
10% max in the tourist areas, and outside of center usually just round up - i.e. if the bill is 290kc, 300kc is fine.
Pickpockets:
The tourist trams (number 22 or 23) and the center of the city do have pickpockets that usually work in groups (they crowd you on the tram and take your wallet while you can't move) - just pay attention.
Where to Stay:
If you're only in Prague for a couple of days an unfamiliar with the transportation system you'll want to stay reasonably close to center. Anything in Prague 1 (Prague is divided into districts) is probably an 'ok' location, some of the places in Prague 2 are ok too if you don't mind a short train ride. Anything other than that you'll want to consult a map.
Things to See:
Prague Castle - of course this is one of the biggest attractions and it is worth seeing. Either walk up to the castle via Nerudova Rd, or take the 22/23 (going towards Bila Hora & Malovanka respectively) to the Prazky Hrad (Prague Castle) stop.
Charles Bridge - I'd recommend getting up early and hitting this during or shortly after sunrise, in the middle of the day it's a zoo.
Old Town Square & the Astronomical Clock - this will be jammed with tourists at all times of the day, but worth having a wander through.
Petrin Hill - a beautiful park, opposite from Prague Castle, with a miniture Eiffel Tower erected on top. A good idea is take the Funicular tram from the based of the hill at the Uzejd tram stop to the top, and walk through the park to Strahov Monastery and then to the Castle.
Jewish Cemetary - near old town, packed with tourists, but probably worth a quick look.
Vysehrad - an old fortress, now mostly a park, a short walk from the Red line stop of the same name. Usually not too crowded & the tour of the casements is worth the 50kc (tour & tickets are located at the big gate at the north end of the park), some of the original statues from the Charles Bridge are stored there (some of the statues on the bridge are reproductions).
Troja Chateau - a beautiful Roman style villa on the banks of the Vltava, now an art museum. A fun way to get there is to take a boat cruise - see http://www.ghmp.cz/a_troja.php & http://www.paroplavba.cz for info.
Pruhonice - a beautiful park with an elegant castle/cheateau, just shortly (45 minutes) outside of town. Much less touristy than other castles in the area. Take the Red line to Opatov, and catch a bus - Numbers# 324, 325, 363, 385 (you'll have to pay a little extra on top of your metro pass since it's outside of the city limits - just show your pass, say 'pruohinice' and they'll tell what the difference is - 8kc if I recall). The stop is “Pruhonice” or Pruhonice Namesti”- it’s the same stop but I am not sure what the real name is. Restaurant U Bezousku is the pub right at the bus stop, so that could be a hint. Once you get off the bus, go to your right towards the Castle, at the gate (on the inside) you can buy tickets, I believe its 40CZK per person. http://www.ibot.cas.cz/EN/park/index.php
Karlstejn - a big castle just south of Prague, very touristy, but still very picturesque. Take a train from the Smichov Nadrazi trainstation - about 30 minute ride. www.vlak.cz - the Czech train website, schedules available here.
Konopiste - a hunting chateau/castle about 1 hour train ride from Prague - take a train from the Hlavni Nadrazi (Main station) station to Benesov, then walk about 1 1/2 miles, there are a number of signs pointing the way. Admission to the castle only with a tour, the tours in English are infrequent and pricy - so a Czech tour is fine if you just want to see the inside. The grounds include a beautiful rose garde and a lake - nice place to take a picnic lunch.
Narodni Divadlo - the national theatre. Opera/Ballet/Drama - all for prices so low you wonder why it costs so much in the states. Performances are mixed - I've seen some that were amazing, but most are best described as 'good'. The theatre itself is beautiful. http://www.narodni-divadlo.cz/
Places to Eat:
cheap (under 1000kc/2 persons):
Universal - low-key cafe, excellent continental/french food, pork fillet w/rosemary recommended. best value for the money in prague. located in nove mesto
Dynamo - hip cafe, continental food, the green beans are amazing. close to Universal
Maly Buddha - tea room & vietnamese/thai restaurant, nice atmosphere, cash only. near Poholorec tram stop by Strahov Monastery
Bohemia Bagel - good lunch/breakfast stop. cheap, popular with expats. at uzejd tram stop.
Cafe Savoy - nice cafe for lunch or coffee. quality of the food is hit & miss. close to the uzejd tram stop. www.ambi.cz
Cafe Louve - nice cafe for breakfast/lunch. cheap, nice atmosphere. better food than the savoy. near narodni trida metro/tram stop.
Cafe Retro - a block up from Namesti Miru on Fracouska. varied menu, cheap & good, music club downstairs.
Mid-range (1000-2000kc/2persons):
La Bodeguita del Medio - excellent cuban food & mojitos, great atmosphere, make a reservation for the lower restaurant to hear the live music. in old town across from staromestka metro stop. www.labodeguita.cz
Da Nico - small restaurant with small menu of excellent italian food. extensive italian wine list. close to bombay. www.danico.cz
Radost fx - club & vegetarian restaurant. good food with and excellent weekend buffet. near IP pavlova metro stop. www.radostfx.cz
Kogo - very nice italian with impeccable service in a hip modern setting. on havelska, between old town and wenceslas square. www.kogo.cz
Ambiente pasta fresca - reliable if somewhat ordinary italian. a couple blocks east of Old Town Square. www.ambi.cz
Cafe Patio - good varied continental menu. laid back coffee shop atmopshere with some neat interior design. slightly expensive for what you get, but still not a bad choice. next to narodni trida. www.patium.com/cafe_resto/index_e.html
high-end (over 2000kc/2persons):
David - charming czech/french restaurant, small & intimate. excellent food and service. reservations strongly suggested. www.restaurant-david.cz
Hergetova cihlena - hip & popular modern continental restaurant on the river. great cocktails & food. Beautiful summer patio on the river, right next to Charles Bridge. Reservations strongly suggested, very expensive. Part of the kampa group restaurants - http://www.kampagroup.com
Cowboys - Steaks. The food is good but the real atraction is the summer garden with it's great view of Prague. http://www.kampagroup.com
Hot - Asian fusion restaurant on Wenceslas square. good food, hip modern atmosphere. very expensive.
Pravda - international fusion restaurant on Parizka, close to the Intercontinental. Excellent entrees though the apetizers are not as good as they should be. reservations suggested. very expensive.
U Zlate Studne - best view in prague. fabulous french food, fabulously expensive. reservations strongly recommended.
Bars -
Tretters - high-end, swanky cocktail bar. horribly crowded on the weekends. best cocktails in prague.
Blue Light - nice dive bar, near malostranske namesti.
Ocean Drive - high-end bar, next to tretters.
Bugsy's - excellent cocktails, crowded, hip. off praizka st, near intercontinental.
Tulip - nice bar/restaurant, near universal and dynamo. good relaxed atmosphere.
m1 - trendy, hip bar - not well signed & kind of hard to find, popular and packed
clubs -
mecca - popular club outside of the center, typically dance music. www.mecca.cz
roxy - popular club inside the center, on dlouha st, various acts and styles of music www.roxy.cz
radost fx - popular club, typically dance & house music, close to ip pavlova metro stop www.radostfx.cz
websites-
http://www.prague.tv - english website for prague events
http://www.expats.cz - english expat website
http://www.allpraha.com - english expat website for prague
